In the need for some out-of-town traditional culture, recently I headed down to Kyoto for a long weekend of fun and adventure. Oliver and I caught the hideously expensive Shinkansen down ( a short two and a half hour blast) , holding our hunger at bay with a bento box. Veggies all carved into appropriately cute animals and insects.Tasty! We arrived in the late afternoon, and with much flustered confusion, managed to salvage an empty locker, amidst the holiday hoards, to dump our gear in. Having brought all three of my cameras along for the journey, and with a pair of strong arms at my side, I headed out to "capture" Nippon!
We explored Gion, the traditional entertainment and night life district of Kyoto, luckily catching a glimpse of a few stunning Maiko (apprentice Geisha). We wandered around much of the area until after sundown, and then headed uptown to find our accomodation. The night was cold and crisp, and after much aimless wandering in booneyville we found the place and headed strait to the neighbourhood sento (public bath, much like an onsen). It was an excellent way to relax after a long day of trekking around.
The following day we rented rusty bikes from the kind obasan at our inn and rode all over the templed neighbourhood. We first visited a complex of 20 some Zen temples. The buildings were simple, set in deep mossy forest and bamboo groves, some show-casing contemplative rock gardens. From here we rode on to the famous Kinkakuji, a temple covered in three layers of gold leaf. Absolutely stunning! It glowed magestically in the soft, autumn, afternoon sunshine. To escape the crowds we rode along an increasingly country rode, past a small lake and eventually on through some rice fields to another temple complex nestled out in the countryside area. It was so peaceful and refreshing. The main temple was fitted with nightingale floors, a floorboard engineering feat designed to alert occupants of anyone appraoching, with hints from the chirpping boards below their feet.
Another full day of trekking and we returned the bikes and headed back to the Gion area for some grub. My student, a Kyoto style chef and restaurant owner, recommended a very classy and exclusive place to experience an excellent Kyoto dining atmosphere. We enjoyed a delicious meal there and some Kyoto brewed sake. Oishii! We later wandered up and down the latern illuminated canals, snaping photos and strolling along in the cool moonlight.
The rest of the weekend was packed with more delicious Japanese meals, endless locker searches, train riding and temple viewing, not to mention a brief encounter with some VERY authentic samurai ;) Saving a little yen, we decided to take the overnight bus back to T-town. Leaving shortly after 11 pm, I had the unfortunate experience of heinous food poisoning ( probably from an infamous onigiri!) and spent the whole seven and half hour ride tossin' my cookies in the on-board washroom! Woop woop!
All in all......we want to move to Kyoto!!!It has such a great mix of tradition and contemporary Japanese culture, architecture and lifestyle. Just a few too many tourists.......
